It was a crisp and sunny day, the wind swaying around in her silky auburn tresses. She held her phone in her hand, dark ruby eyes tracing the mobile screen back and forth as she anxiously awaited a reply from her current boyfriend.
A sad look adorned her features as her emotions laced with disappointment.
Aoyama Masaya had been in the United Kingdom for quite some time now, and she was starting to feel him slip away from her.
As life continued with the mew mews along with their daily operations, she couldn't help but feel that he was also continuing his without her.
Their calls and facetimes had started depleting in frequency, and she saw less and less of him as time went on.
High school was ending, and she was now at seventeen years of age. She still worked part time at the mew mew cafe, along with her fellow mews and the three aliens that worked there as well, having had made a more permanent establishment here on earth.
However, something had changed. Her heart felt heavy with the weight of uncertainty and longing. The once vibrant and exciting romance she had shared with Aoyama Masaya now seemed distant and faded, like a forgotten dream.
Things had been quiet lately for their group, which she greatly appreciated. She looked up to the sky, smiling sadly as she reminisced on her current predicament with unanswered questions and a state of hopelessness in her mind.
The bustling crowds and bright lights of Tokyo no longer held the same excitement for her as they once did. Ichigo found herself longing for the quiet moments she used to share with Masaya, where it was just the two of them, lost in their own world.
Aoyama-kun had said that things would always change, would always be different, but she just hadn't thought at the time that their bond might twist into anything but a stronger connection, and yet here she was, waiting for a mere text days after their last conversation.
Making her way down the quiet street, she allowed her thoughts to consume her as she swayed in the solitude, her phone not ringing for a text or a call back. She had sent the I miss you... text a few minutes prior, but she was starting to lose hope for a response.
Something that bothered her was the feeling that the lack of communication was not unintentional. Ichigo sensed a growing distance between her and Aoyama Masaya. The late nights spent talking about their hopes and dreams had become a thing of the past, replaced by silence and unanswered text messages. It was as if their once unbreakable bond was now fragile and teetering on the edge of collapse.
It wasn't eating at her quite as much as she felt it should have, which worried her, made her unsure of the future of their relationship, and established confusion on her own certainty of her personal feelings towards him.
As their high school days were coming to an end, their once strong bond seemed to weaken with each passing day. She couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment and sadness as she saw him slipping away from her. The frequent phone calls and facetimes had become infrequent, and she found herself yearning for his presence more than ever.
In her age, she had developed more womanly features. Her hips had filled out a bit more, her chest a little bigger, her legs just a little longer and tones from the exercise and training she consistently participated in to keep sharp and alert just in case any more conflicts were to arise.
She was starting to get a little more attention, and she swore that she had even caught Ryou glancing at her a few times with a different glint in his eyes, though it may have just been her imagination.
She couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness every time she realized how much she missed him. As high school graduation approached, the distance between them seemed to grow even wider.
She walked by a park and looked over, observing the people that were participating in different activities. She saw a woman playing with her small child, A man walking his dog, a couple on a picnic...it all seemed so peaceful and mundane, and she wished she had been experiencing one of those peaceful moments with Aoyama.
It appeared that their emotional connection was waning, and it pained her to see him slipping away. Despite their promises to always be there for each other, the distance between them was increasingly palpable. Aoyama's absence left an ache in her heart, and she couldn't shake off the sadness that lingered in her gaze.
She smiled sadly and shook her head, continuing her walk, the soft breeze caressing her body still, her skirt swaying lightly around her legs.
on was indicative of something deeper. It wasn't just about the decrease in calls and messages; it was about the emotional distance that had crept into their relationship. Ichigo had always known that the long distance would be difficult, but she hadn't anticipated the toll it would take on their connection. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, she found herself longing for the closeness they once shared.
I think you should just be my cat...
I love you, Ichigo...You will wait for me, won't you...?
I'll always come back...
She stopped briefly, sighing as she looked ahead, her hands raising slightly as they covered her heart, "Aoyama-kun...I have been waiting for you, so where are you...?" The question was meant for no ears, just a thought that accidentally dripped from her lips before she could contain it.
All the sudden, an explosion and deep roar caused a panic on what was a peaceful day just mere moments prior. She gasped, turning around as the screams of the park goers decorated the air, people running in all different directions. Her eyes went wide as a chimera animal, seemingly taking the form of a large, mutated bobcat sprang forth, roaring at the humans as it swiped at one.
She gritted her teeth, reaching for her pendant in her back pocket. She kissed it, crying out the familiar words to start the process of her transformation.
"Mew mew strawberry...metamorphose!"
A blinding, vivid pink light enveloped her in a radiant embrace, as if the very essence of her being was being reborn. Her mew pendant shone brightly with a rainbow light, signaling the start of the transformation as her body curled up, surrounded by the glowing embers radiating from the pendant as ribbons of energy gently wrapped her in a magical embrace.
Her mundane attire underwent a mesmerizing metamorphosis, transcending into an ethereal satin pink dress that flowed with grace and elegance as her arms rose up, her body twirling in mid-air in a brilliant burst of sparkling energy.
Like a mystical creature summoned from a dream, delicate cat ears and a swishing tail materialized, adorned with a resplendent red bow, crowned with a tinkling bell. Her hands, now adorned with crimson gloves made pawing gestures as the pendant descended on a choker that appeared on her neck, her now gloved hands gingerly cradled her beloved strawberry bell, a symbol of her enigmatic persona.
With an air of purpose and determination, she descended upon the chaos, her red boots striking the ground with an unwavering resolve, as she surged towards the epicenter of the tumultuous maelstrom
The beastly animal roared again, slamming its paws down as it looked at her with hunger and bloodlust, guttural growls resonating from its bared teeth. It darted towards her as well, prepared to take her out.
With her cat-like reflexes she jumped in the air, flipping backwards in the air as she held up her magical girl weapon, readying her attack.
"Strawberry...Ribbon...surprise...!"
A brilliant beam of vibrant energy surged forward, crackling with untamed power, eagerly seeking its mark. Yet, in a mesmerizing display of sheer force, upon collision, the beam dissolved into ethereal particles, vanishing into thin air. In the wake of this mystifying spectacle, the creature surged forth with newfound velocity, propelled by an overwhelming surge of primal energy, accompanied by a resounding roar that reverberated through the air.
Ichigo's heart pounded in her chest as she realized that her attack had little to no effect on the beastly chimera.
A mix of fear and determination filled her as she swiftly dodged its lunges, her agility and quick reflexes serving her well. With each dodge, Ichigo's mind raced, trying to come up with a strategy to defeat this formidable opponent. She knew she had to find a weakness, a vulnerability that would give her the upper hand.
She gasped, her heart pounding in her chest as she took a hesitant step back, her eyes widening with fear and confusion. The creature's grotesque form loomed before her, its menacing presence sending shivers down her spine.
"How...how did it...not do anything...!?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with disbelief. With lightning-fast reflexes, she skillfully dodged yet another vicious swipe from the creature, her body rolling to the side to evade the deadly attack. As her mind raced, she desperately searched for a solution, her thoughts clouded by the terror that gripped her.
"Ribbon strawberry check!"
She shouted, mustering every ounce of courage she had left. A surge of energy erupted from her; each blast more powerful than the last. But despite her fervent attempts, the mutation remained unchanged, mocking her futile efforts. Horror washed over her as the reality of the situation sank in. The creature's transformation showed no signs of reversing, leaving her trapped in a nightmarish battle against the unknown. Fear and determination entwined within her, propelling her to continue fighting against the odds, even as her hope wavered in the face of this relentless monstrosity.
Launching into a run, the creature pursued her furiously, its anger escalating at her futile attempts at subduing it. It slammed its paws down onto the ground, causing it to quake with the force. The creature's eyes were wild, its fur standing on end as it bared its teeth in a snarl. She knew that if she did not escape, she would be in mortal danger. She had no choice but to flee.
Ichigo cried out as her hands and knees hit the ground, stumbling forward. She gasped, looking back up at the creature as she scooted back, her heart racing. "Why isn't it changing back!? Wh-what's happening...!?"
The monster roared, raising its head to the sky, its eyes flaring with an ominous glow. Energy collected and swirled in its mouth, poised to unleash a devastating attack on her. Her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to brace herself for the impact, gritting her teeth.
"Ichigo!"
A loud slash permeated through the air as animal staggered to the side, its large body falling to the ground. A shadow graced loomed over her as she slowly opened her eyes, looking up at her savior.
His pair of Tonfa's were raised in defense, a fierce determination set in his bright gold optics. His green hair swayed lightly in the wind, the red fabric around the strands framing his face containing the locks from whipping around in the winds of battle.
A light blush stained her cheeks, both embarrassed and relieved the familiar alien had come to aid her. As the monster stood, he growled, his hand wrapping around her waist as he propelled their bodies into the air, landing high on a tree branch.
His piercing gaze met hers for the first time in a while. Lately, Kisshu had been avoiding her for the most part, his usual affections towards her not nearly as visible or aggressive as his previous attempts had been. She hadn't really been paying attention to it due to her concern over the impending doom of her current relationship, but a part of her had grown accustomed to their intense interactions over the time she had known him.
He smirked at her, a fang poking over his lip. "You okay, Koneko-chan? You're not usually this clumsy."
She pursed her lips, her face flushing in embarrassment. "My attacks aren't working…! It's not changing back to normal…!" His playful glance turned more serious as his auriferous eyes bore into hers. "What….!?"
As the creature slammed into the tree he grabbed her waist again, moving to a different tree as he got into his battle stance. "I'm not sure what's going on or how this is happening, but the others are on their way!"
She nodded as both of them looked towards the creature, preparing to find its weakness. "Kisshu…..thank you…." Kisshu nodded, glancing at her before turning his attention back to their target.
Whatever this new threat was or why a Chimera Animal had appeared that was apparently stronger and more foreign than the ones of the past, it seemed as if the troupe had something dangerous to face once again.